The material presented
here is not Al-Anon Conference Approved Literature. It is a method
to exchange
information, ideas, feelings, problems and solutions on a personal
level.
In today's C2C, the author shares that living with the disease of alcoholism taught them that it was best to not hope for anything. The heartbreak of getting hopes up, only to be disappointed again and again was too much to bear. Eventually, the author shut down all their feelings and refused to care or hope for anything at all.
Through Al-Anon's 12 steps, the author is learning that there is reason to hope, and that regardless of circumstances, the author can feel alive and enjoy circumstances and moments. They are realizing that it is safe to feel, to hope, and to dream.
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Today's Reminder: It is risky to care -I may be disappointed. But in trying to protect myself from pain, I could cut myself off from the many delights that life has to offer. I will live more fully today.
Today's Hope: "Years may wrinkle the skin, but to give up enthusiasm wrinkles the soul." Samuel Ullman
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I'm not a person who is especially in touch with my emotions. I operate and think primarily in a rational way, which isn't to say that I don't feel emotions, but I'm not one to pay much attention to them in my daily life and decision making. When I became involved with my AW, I noticed that my emotions were becoming larger and that they seemed to be in charge much more than I was used to. I'm very familiar with the author's numbness - cutting off emotions and refusing to hope or dream. I spent many years in this space, and thought I was just being realistic about what I could and could not have in life. Thanks to Al-Anon, I realized that I did have choices and I could dream. It might be taking me longer to get to the place I want to be since I'm pulling the family in that direction alone most of the time, but I have confidence that if I keep dreaming and hoping, and making choices that bring me closer to my dreams, I will get there.
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Skorpi
If you are depressed, you are living in the past. If you are anxious, you are living in the future. If you are at peace, you are living in the present. - Lao Tzu
Good Day Skorpi. Thank you for your service and thought provoking share. I could write a mini novel on the little miracles /coincidences that have happened in the last 24 hours and tasks/goals achieved with energy to spare thanks to today's and yesterday's posts/shares. MIP facilitates my efforts to build a strong relationship with my HP and gives me courage to live in reality. Grateful for MIP/Al-Anon
